Possible new dining option for suite guests

[Charles4515]

I think perhaps CaptainMartini's remark, "This suite-class idea brings Celebrity closer to Cunard in its on-board class-differentiation" refers to Cunard's separation of passengers by price paid for cabin accommodations, through their dining venues. There's the Queen's Grill for the highest paid suites, Princess Grill for lower priced suites (still expensive) and the Britania Restaurant for all others. I think there may even be another small dining venue for those in Club Balcony cabins. I understand that there are many people who do not like the idea of "class separation" and see it as an outdated fixture of the past (like Formal Nights for some). ;)

 

 

 

Personally I do not agree that X has "shot themselves in the foot" with the "suite class". You get what you pay for, or at least you expect to. X is trying to fulfill those expectations.

 

 

I don't see either how they are shooting themselves in the foot. Also I think most of us who are not booked in a suite won't notice there is a suite restaurant.

 

As for Cunard I took a transatlantic on the QM2, was in the Britannia restaurant and didn't notice the supposed class differentiation. Probably the ones who noticed were those in the Queens Grill. Likely the suite passengers on Celebrity will notice they are getting something more and it will be the same old, same old, for the rest of us.

[cruisead]

We were in a QG suite on QM2 and were not impressed with the QG dining room. The menu was the same as the MDR with the exception of the ala carte menu, which wasn't impressive.

 

Celebrity is merely attempting to keep up with the Jones's so to speak, with the likes of the Haven Suites on NCL and the lines who have concierge lounges for their suites. They're not shooting themselves in the foot, but trying to make their big suites more attractive for the price. So, why shouldn't a couple who pays $16K for the PH get different perks than someone who pays $2500 for the same cruise?

[hcat]

Suite passengers will still be able to dine in Blu on a space available basis. Presumably with a suite restaurant it will reduce crowding in Blue. When the new suite dining room goes into effect, they are totally eliminating the AQ Suites on Reflection and reclassifyng them as Sky Suites (S1 I believe) also reducing crowding in Blue on Reflection (the only ship with AQ Suites).

 

I believe the only ship that has been offering brunch in Blu on boarding day is Summit as a test. Hopefully they roll that plan out fleet wide as it seems to be a no brainer to eliminate Ocean View Cafe crowding, as long as they can operationally make it work for the staff who seem to get even less of a break.

 

Happy sailing,

Jenna

 

Thanks for this helpful info....hope they do the brunch on Reflection by the time we get there in Nov...we'll work around any BLU crowding issues at dinner but we eat dinner fairly early so it probably won, t be that difficult...

 

The changes they are making sound like a reasonable plan...As long as Celebrity offers us AQ and BLU we will stick with them.

 

BTW: When we cruised on QM 2, we did not feel at all second class to be in the Britannia DR

Edited July 5, 2014 by hcat

[Chunky2219]

While that's very helpful to have things clarified, I say again, "This suite-class idea brings Celebrity closer to Cunard in its on-board class-differentiation, with the unfortunate result that Celebrity will no longer be DIFFERENT from its rivals. Consequently, without that difference, we might just as well look elsewhere."

 

.

 

Ever sailed with Cunard?

 

My DW and I seem to alternate between Cunard and X so I have a reasonable feel for the comparisons. The "on-board class differentiation" is no more real than the unicorn. The only way you will know that I'm dining Queens Grill would be if you noticed me discreetly slip my key card into the slot on the lift to get access to deck 12.

 

You will see much more of it on Celebrity, with the obsidian grand elites and their cocktail parties, drinks vouchers and breakfast in Tuscan Grill. In a suite on Celebrity I get reserved seats in the theatre. On Cunard, the theatre boxes are first come, first served and on show nights any Tom, Dick or Harriet can book one, complete with canapés and fizz for $50.

 

Frankly, without the changes I'd be reluctant to book a suite on Celebrity again. The quality of food doesn't match the cost of the real estate and there's a dozen other reasons why it's a great idea they're making a change.

 

Enjoy your voyages on Princess or even better NCL. Did you know that even mass market NCL ships have an entire deck, complete with pool, for high end guests?

 

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[Project_gal]

Enjoy your voyages on Princess or even better NCL. Did you know that even mass market NCL ships have an entire deck, complete with pool, for high end guests?

 

.

 

... and, on NCL at least, they are even move overt with the "VIP" treatment of suite guests.

[Iamcruzin]

I don't understand the argument that Celebrity is becoming a class system like Cunard. I never read this type of comment being referred to Aqua class and Blu. It seems that the separate restaurant idea has already been accepted by passengers. Celebrity found a way to create another room category selling the same type room as a standard balcony for more money. I think it was a good marketing idea that worked. Honestly to me it seems like Aqua class was more special than booking a suite. It is human nature to want something you can't have so my guess is that Celebrity is cashing in on this emotion by creating exclusive dining and social venues for their suite guests in hopes that they can create a greater desire for this category and maybe attract new passengers from other lines or get their current costumer base to upgrade. Perhaps if they create a separate dining room for suite guests they can arrange to offer the Blu menu as well as a suite menu or a combination of both. This would eliminate the crowding in Blu.

Edited July 5, 2014 by Iamcruzin

[vulcan1971]

... and, on NCL at least, they are even move overt with the "VIP" treatment of suite guests.

 

Have you cruised on NCL in a Haven suite? I would be interested to hear your thoughts on the "overt VIP treatment" that you mention.

[vulcan1971]

I don't know that Cunard could at all be considered a "rival" of celebrity. They share very, very few of the same itineraries or ports.

 

Celebrity's competitors are more like Princess and HAL I would say.

 

To me I think certain in certain aspects a line MUST keep up with its competitors in certain areas, and differentiate in others. I'm not sure how a dedicated Suite dining room will have any more detrimental affect on a cruise than BLU did, or any other specialty restaurant. Currently other lines such as Norwegian have entire separate decks and spaces for their guests, not just a restaurant. Celebrity adding a suite only dining room just brings them closer to offering the options available elsewhere, keeping up with the competitors, not slipping behind them.

 

What exactly is it a bout a suite dining room is it that makes you think it will be "shooting themselves in the foot"? Could you expand on that thought...

 

I'd add that Cunard's total daily capacity is about 6725 and Celebrity's (excluding Century, as she'll be gone when this goes into effect) is about 23325, basically almost four times as much. Hard to compare lines that have mostly different itineraries and sizes. I agree with Curt, seems more likely they're trying to compete with Hal or even NCL Haven. Princess in general is obviously a competitor, though I don't feel it compares as favorable in the suite category.

 

Happy sailing,

Jenna

 

I agree with each of you that Celebrity has a suite product that in the past did not compare to other cruise lines that Celebrity competes with. IMHO, It was definitely necessary for Celebrity to change/create/enhance the suite amenities to provide value to the customer. I had already decided after my 2013 Reflection cruise that I would not be booking any more suites on Celebrity unless something dramatic happened. Given all the changes, I have decided to give Celebrity one more chance for my 2016 New Zealand/Australia cruise.

 

Having stayed in the Haven of two different NCL ships, I can say that the NCL suite experience is worth every penny I spend and more. Even with all the enhancements made on Celebrity, the NCL suite product (IMHO) is still better. The Haven suite experience provides a level of pampering I have not experienced on Celebrity.

[Cruising89143]

I agree with each of you that Celebrity has a suite product that in the past did not compare to other cruise lines that Celebrity competes with. IMHO, It was definitely necessary for Celebrity to change/create/enhance the suite amenities to provide value to the customer. I had already decided after my 2013 Reflection cruise that I would not be booking any more suites on Celebrity unless something dramatic happened. Given all the changes, I have decided to give Celebrity one more chance for my 2016 New Zealand/Australia cruise.

 

Having stayed in the Haven of two different NCL ships, I can say that the NCL suite experience is worth every penny I spend and more. Even with all the enhancements made on Celebrity, the NCL suite product (IMHO) is still better. The Haven suite experience provides a level of pampering I have not experienced on Celebrity.

 

I agree that X was behind NCL when it came to suite perks verses what they were charging. So is RCI but the difference is RCI has no issues filling their suites so I see no changes coming from RCI. One reason that we moved away from them as our first choice.

 

We cruised in suites on NCL but they did not have the Haven (Star and Dawn). I really don't think we would like this area other than the dedicated restaurant. We like large balconies to relax on sea days and the Haven area seems blocked off from sea views. We don't use public pools. Also it looks as though on NCL's new builds the suite balconies are much smaller. A negative for us.

 

We did enjoy breakfast and lunch at Cagney's but X has now answered that with the new suite restaurant. Our butlers on NCL were both poor compared to X but I know that can change from cruise to cruise.

 

My biggest issue with NCL are the ships themselves. They did not match RCI or X. They looked and felt cheap. No WOW factor. We also found the lido dining on both ships to be some of the worst we have experienced. Thank goodness for Cagney's.

 

I hope you enjoy your upcoming cruise on the Solstice. Looks like it's going to be a special cruise. :)

[Project_gal]

Have you cruised on NCL in a Haven suite? I would be interested to hear your thoughts on the "overt VIP treatment" that you mention.

 

No, we have only sailed on NCL once [on NCL Sun so no Haven] and were in a quite lowly Penthouse. The comment referred to the very obvious way we were taken out of the queue for check-in to another area. It was not done discretely at all. The same thing happened at disembarkation. We were taken passed the queue of other guests who had been waiting for immigration for some time and up to the front. We were travelling with family who were not in a suite and it was all so obvious that we were being treated differently.

[JEDIKNIGHT]

I’ve been on the NCL’s Garden Villa and while some parts of NCL I do not care for, I must say…their ‘VIP” treatment was AWESOME.

 

Overall X is a better product but on my recent Summit cruise, the buffet (in my opinion) as really screwed up. So while I still like X over NCL, the 2 products just got ‘closer’ for me.

 

I browse NCL’s site now, much more than I used to.

[vulcan1971]

No, we have only sailed on NCL once [on NCL Sun so no Haven] and were in a quite lowly Penthouse. The comment referred to the very obvious way we were taken out of the queue for check-in to another area. It was not done discretely at all. The same thing happened at disembarkation. We were taken passed the queue of other guests who had been waiting for immigration for some time and up to the front. We were travelling with family who were not in a suite and it was all so obvious that we were being treated differently.

 

Sue - thanks for your comments. The first time in the Haven, I didn't know what to expect (first cruise with NCL). For the check-in/embarkation process, I wasn't aware that there was a suite lounge for us to go to for the check-in process. We got into the shortest line possible and made our way to the desk. Once at the desk with an agent to check us in, she realized that we should have been elsewhere and found someone to escort us away and back to the suite lounge. The rest of the process went smoothly. The next time cruising with NCL, I knew what to look for/expect when arriving at the port. As far as the disembarkation process goes, I thought that this was also very smooth. Granted, I was not traveling with other friends/family on the same ship, so there was no separation from those parties as we went through the customs/immigration process. Actually, now that I think about it, I only received expedited treatment to disembark as far as the plank to walk off the ship. After that, we were on our own. We did a late departure leaving the ship at 10AM and walked off with our luggage since we were staying in Miami for a day. It seemed smooth to me and we did not experience a line to go through customs/immigration when leaving the Epic earlier this year in February.

[TourDeCruise]

Bistro on Five is not being converted to a suites only restaurant. Celebrity has stated the this dining room will be carved out of existing space in the MDR.

 

New suite perks flyer that explains most of the changes.

 

http://www.creative.rccl.com/Sales/Celebrity/General_Info/Flyers/14037410_CEL_Suites_FAQs.pdf

 

You are reacting to an outdated post. As indicated by multiple sources,including CelebrityCruises on this tread, Bistro on 5 will remain. There are no plans to close it at this time. In fact, both the menu and the price have been enhanced. Also announced that the new Suite restaurant will be open for breakfast,lunch and dinner. The matter has been decided!

 

Thanks, cruisingator2, Charles, and others for reassurances and information that Bistro on Five will not be converted to the suites-only restaurant. We enjoy Bistro on Five for the delicious crepes and quiet ambience; it also fits with our brunch/lunch schedule when excursions begin around 11am-1pm. It will be interesting to see the enhanced menu. Does Bistro still include crepes? $7 now for a complete meal including dessert? Fine with me to raise the price and enhance the menu, but hopefully we can still get crepes. :)

 

This suites-only enhancement should alleviate some of the stress on Blu, especially on the Reflection which has more suites including Aqua Suites which will be converted to Sky Suites according to the suite-perks-flyer pdf. Glad to see this change will be made before our spring Equinox TA when we will be in an Aqua Class cabin.

 

Kathy

[need2bespoiled]

Thanks, cruisingator2, Charles, and others for reassurances and information that Bistro on Five will not be converted to the suites-only restaurant. We enjoy Bistro on Five for the delicious crepes and quiet ambience; it also fits with our brunch/lunch schedule when excursions begin around 11am-1pm. It will be interesting to see the enhanced menu. Does Bistro still include crepes? $7 now for a complete meal including dessert? Fine with me to raise the price and enhance the menu, but hopefully we can still get crepes. :)

 

This suites-only enhancement should alleviate some of the stress on Blu, especially on the Reflection which has more suites including Aqua Suites which will be converted to Sky Suites according to the suite-perks-flyer pdf. Glad to see this change will be made before our spring Equinox TA when we will be in an Aqua Class cabin.

 

Kathy

 

The menu that was recently posted from the Summit (the only ship currently with the expanded menu) still includes crepes.

 

Happy sailing,

Jenna

[TourDeCruise]

The menu that was recently posted from the Summit (the only ship currently with the expanded menu) still includes crepes.

 

Happy sailing,

Jenna

 

Thank you, Jenna. I found the Summit posting with a picture of the expanded menu. Goat cheese anything makes it to my short list, and I see the crepes I usually order still there. Looking forward to the regular or expanded menus - whichever we get on our future already booked cruises (Eclipse, Constellation, Infinity, Equinox, Silhouette).

 

Kathy

[CaptainMartini]

I don't know that Cunard could at all be considered a "rival" of celebrity. They share very, very few of the same itineraries or ports.

 

Celebrity's competitors are more like Princess and HAL I would say.

 

To me I think certain in certain aspects a line MUST keep up with its competitors in certain areas, and differentiate in others. I'm not sure how a dedicated Suite dining room will have any more detrimental affect on a cruise than BLU did, or any other specialty restaurant. Currently other lines such as Norwegian have entire separate decks and spaces for their guests, not just a restaurant. Celebrity adding a suite only dining room just brings them closer to offering the options available elsewhere, keeping up with the competitors, not slipping behind them.

 

What exactly is it a bout a suite dining room is it that makes you think it will be "shooting themselves in the foot"? Could you expand on that thought...

 

It's interesting (and revealing) to read the differences of opinion about separate dining arrangements for suite-class on Celebrity but as for "shooting themselves in the foot", many of you seem to have missed the original point I was making about this.

 

My point is that dining is a social thing as much as anything else and when I cruise, I very often do so in a group of up to 10 people, some of whom like a suite, while others don't. But we all like to dine together. From next year, the only way we can do this is either by paying $50 each extra to go with them as "friends" or the suite-class people will have to forego their own restaurant (for which they have effectively paid extra as part of their fare) to "go slumming it" with the rest of their group! Even to do this requires considerable pre-planning by having to sit in that dreadful queue on first day, to plead with the Maître d' to give us a table suitable to accommodate us all. Personally, it's going to be so much hassle that we may well not choose Celebrity any more. That's what I meant by "shooting themselves in the foot"!

[cle-guy]

My point is that dining is a social thing as much as anything else and when I cruise, I very often do so in a group of up to 10 people, some of whom like a suite, while others don't. But we all like to dine together. From next year, the only way we can do this is either by paying $50 each extra to go with them as "friends" or the suite-class people will have to forego their own restaurant (for which they have effectively paid extra as part of their fare) to "go slumming it" with the rest of their group! Even to do this requires considerable pre-planning by having to sit in that dreadful queue on first day, to plead with the Maître d' to give us a table suitable to accommodate us all. Personally, it's going to be so much hassle that we may well not choose Celebrity any more. That's what I meant by "shooting themselves in the foot"!

 

Dining can be a social event for sure. One can dine with a group in the MDR, or in BLU, or at the Buffet, or in the suite dining room.

 

If one is so concerned about dining with the rest in their group, then one should book the same accommodation as the rest of their group and not a higher class of cabin, that solves the issue. Or the suite passengers can lower themselves to have to "slum it in the MDR" - they have to choose if their friends are worth leaving their dining room for, or offer to pay for their friends to come to the suite dining room.

 

They can avoid the 'dreaded maitre d line' to change table arrangements by selecting Select dining and arriving as a group and waiting a few minutes for an appropriate table which many report that have been able to arrange a set time on subsequent nights after the first night when doing select, often getting same wait staff even. Also if traveling with a group, part of which is in a suite, the Suite Butler can readily make the accommodations for an appropriate table in the MDR without having to have any wait in line, just give the Suite guest the list of names and cabin number and the butler will tend to the details on the groups behalf. been there, done that. It's really not such a hassle. And of course dining in the Suite can be arranged for the group, depending on the number off guests one wants to invite. Perhaps break the group up on some nights to accommodate all.

 

All it really is is offering choices to people, people can them make their own decision. Are their friends more important to them, or dining in the exclusive restaurant more important. I suppose how they answer that question will be quite telling as to what kind of friend they are. Maybe some nights they dine together, some nights people dine separate to enjoy time alone with their significant other.

 

I do travel in suites most times, last time in AquaClass. I never once ate dinner in BLU when in Aqua, and typically do MDR when in suite, often forgoing 1 or both of my complimentary specialty dining restaurant arrangements in order to spend time with the group I sail with. And you know what, I lived to tell about it and have fond memories of each trip, and don't even think about the meal I missed in Blu or the specialty restaurants.

[chamima]

It's interesting (and revealing) to read the differences of opinion about separate dining arrangements for suite-class on Celebrity but as for "shooting themselves in the foot", many of you seem to have missed the original point I was making about this.

 

My point is that dining is a social thing as much as anything else and when I cruise, I very often do so in a group of up to 10 people, some of whom like a suite, while others don't. But we all like to dine together. From next year, the only way we can do this is either by paying $50 each extra to go with them as "friends" or the suite-class people will have to forego their own restaurant (for which they have effectively paid extra as part of their fare) to "go slumming it" with the rest of their group! Even to do this requires considerable pre-planning by having to sit in that dreadful queue on first day, to plead with the Maître d' to give us a table suitable to accommodate us all. Personally, it's going to be so much hassle that we may well not choose Celebrity any more. That's what I meant by "shooting themselves in the foot"!

 

I understand what you're saying but the point I think you're missing is that Celebrity is only expanding the options for suite guests.

Your friends who travel in the suite are already paying the premium to sail in that cabin. They currently have 2 options for dinner, the MDR or Blu.

Celebrity is now expanding their choice to 3 options.

It sounds like they enjoy dining in the MDR with their friends. They can still do that.

Also, they have the breakfast and lunch (when people tend to dine as couples - at least we do) options to eat in the suite dining room and then join their friends for dinner in the MDR.

We don't usually sail in suites but I think this new option is an enhancement that might make us consider it more often.

[Bobbye]

I understand what you're saying but the point I think you're missing is that Celebrity is only expanding the options for suite guests.

Your friends who travel in the suite are already paying the premium to sail in that cabin. They currently have 2 options for dinner, the MDR or Blu.

Celebrity is now expanding their choice to 3 options.

It sounds like they enjoy dining in the MDR with their friends. They can still do that.

Also, they have the breakfast and lunch (when people tend to dine as couples - at least we do) options to eat in the suite dining room and then join their friends for dinner in the MDR.

We don't usually sail in suites but I think this new option is an enhancement that might make us consider it more often.

 

Are suite guests still going to have the option of Blu? I have read this thread and didn't see this confirmed but I could have missed it.

[cle-guy]

Are suite guests still going to have the option of Blu? I have read this thread and didn't see this confirmed but I could have missed it.

 

Suite guests will continue to have the same access to BLU as they always have.

[firstcruiserDB]

Don't usually like to bring up old threads, but this seemed like a trivial question to start a new one on. I will try to see if I can get anyone's opinions here. I know that no one actually knows the answer to this for sure at this time.

 

Does anyone know about dining times in the new dining room for suite guests and what it should say on your reservation? We are booked on the Summit next summer, requested Celebrity Select dining, and our reservation says TRADITIONAL DINING 6:30.

 

This time would not work for us! I notified our TA last week, and it's still not changed. Do you think the new Suite Restaurant will be a "come to the dining room anytime you'd like" restaurant?

 

Thanks for your opinions!

[Cruise a holic]

Don't usually like to bring up old threads, but this seemed like a trivial question to start a new one on. I will try to see if I can get anyone's opinions here. I know that no one actually knows the answer to this for sure at this time.

 

Does anyone know about dining times in the new dining room for suite guests and what it should say on your reservation? We are booked on the Summit next summer, requested Celebrity Select dining, and our reservation says TRADITIONAL DINING 6:30.

 

This time would not work for us! I notified our TA last week, and it's still not changed. Do you think the new Suite Restaurant will be a "come to the dining room anytime you'd like" restaurant?

 

Thanks for your opinions!

 

We are also in a Summit next summer on the Summit and have opted for early dining. My on-line reservation states early dining 6:00 PM. So I "assume" the special dining time isn't 6:30. I would "assume" it might be anytime between 5:30 and 8:00.

 

We will be on the Summit this summer in a suite, and will ask it the staff knows.

Edited July 21, 2014 by Cruise a holic

[koolforkatz]

Does anyone know about dining times in the new dining room for suite guests and what it should say on your reservation? We are booked on the Summit next summer, requested Celebrity Select dining, and our reservation says TRADITIONAL DINING 6:30.

 

This time would not work for us! I notified our TA last week, and it's still not changed. Do you think the new Suite Restaurant will be a "come to the dining room anytime you'd like" restaurant?

 

We're booked on the Equinox for a Feb/16 cruise. When I booked my TA hadn't even heard about the suite restaurant. I just picked traditional late sitting and that's what it says online.

 

But I would guess it will operate similar to Blu. I'm happy either way - just excited to try it :D

[cle-guy]

I tend to think as well, it will work like BLU. An assigned requested time first night, then let door staff know your preferences....

 

I wouldn't pay any attention to any information you see or era on your reservation n X website other than sailing dates and confirmation number. everything else seems to be half baked, nd som days accurate others not then magically accurate again. No surprise they haven't figured this out yet for suites.

 

Anyone know how it works when you book Aqua now and select dining preferences? I've not paid attention to that myself yet....

[sperkins921]

when we were on board the Connie in February, we had aqua class and we had a seating time assigned to us on the first night and within our online reservation info; but no actual assigned dining times in reality.